Cushy blanket

ABSTRACT

The bead duvet represents a unique blanket, comforter or duvet formed from soft fabric material including heat expanded polystyrene beads as the insulation contained within. The characteristics of this insulation create a unique feeling of comfort and support not available in traditional blankets, comforters or duvets. The sewing pattern will create the structure and contour of the invention, a duvet with an equal distribution of insulation through out.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

A blanket, comforter or duvet formed from soft fabric material including insulation material contained within, providing warmth and comfort to the user.

2. Description of Prior Art

Traditional blankets, comforters and duvets have a number of insulation options regarding the material that is used to create the comfort and warmth provided to the user. The type, amount and application of insulation directly affect the specific characteristics of comfort and warmth a blanket provides to its user. The majority of blankets that have been manufactured to date are either filled with batting or down. Batting can be made from a variety of materials including but not limited to cotton or polyester, and sold in rolls similar to fabric rolls. Most blankets and quilts are manufactured using batting due to the ease of assembly, making it an inexpensive process. Down refers to bird feathers which can come from a variety of birds, and sold loose in bags. Manufacturing a down comforter or duvet is a more involved and expensive process, but produces a higher quality product. A lack of more types of material used as insulation in a blanket, comforter or duvet limits the selection for a consumer. The invention of the bead duvet creates a high quality and unique product that competes with traditional blankets, comforters and duvets. The expanded polystyrene beads create unique cushion and support, providing a distinct feeling of comfort different from alternative forms of insulation used in blankets, comforters or duvets.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention represents a unique blanket, comforter or duvet formed from soft fabric material including heat expanded polystyrene beads as the insulation contained within. The characteristics of this insulation create a unique feeling of comfort and support not available in traditional blankets, comforters or duvets. Properties of heat expanded polystyrene beads as insulation trap in heat in order to keep the user warm. The soft fabric comprises of rectangular or square upper and lower sides sewn together around the perimeter, and sewn from each side in equal sections through out the entire invention. The design of the sewing pattern can vary for aesthetical purposes, as long as the pattern creates equal sections through out the entire invention equally distributing the insulation within each section. The sewing pattern will create the structure and contour of the invention, a duvet with an equal distribution of insulation through out.

The advantages of this invention when compared to traditional blankets, comforters and duvets, involves the warmth, comfort and support offered by the invention. The insulating characteristics of the heat expanded polystyrene beads provide an exceptional source of warmth as a duvet. An equal amount of insulation sectioned off through out the entire invention creates an equal level of warmth through out the invention.

The heavier density of the heat expanded polystyrene beads over the density of batting or down feathers creates a unique experience of comfort for the user. The heavier weight of the insulation allows the invention to mold naturally over the user for additional warmth comfort.

The characteristics of the heat expanded polystyrene beads provide support unlike traditional blankets, comforters or duvets. When a section of the invention is folded over another section of the invention, the invention becomes rigid at the point of fold in order to provide physical support to a section of, or the entire body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a bead duvet sewn around the perimeter 10 with square stitching pattern 12.

FIG. 2 is an overhead view of a bead duvet sewn around the perimeter 20 with rectangular stitching pattern 22.

FIG. 3 is an overhead view of a bead duvet sewn around the perimeter 30 with triangle stitching pattern 32.

FIG. 4 is an overhead view of a bead duvet sewn around the perimeter 40 with vertical stitching pattern 42.

FIG. 5 is an overhead view of a bead duvet sewn around the perimeter 50 with horizontal stitching pattern 52.

FIG. 6 is an overhead view of a bead duvet sewn around the perimeter 60 with circular stitching pattern 2.

FIG. 7 is an overhead view of the duvet cover 70 (representing an optional outer casing) for the bead duvet 72, including the insulation sections filled with heat expanded polystyrene beads 74.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the present invention is directed towards a bead duvet comprising of a soft fabric material cut in the shape of a square or rectangle. Two equally sized and shaped fabric sheets sewn together around the perimeter indicated as 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60. The size and shape selected for the two equal fabric sheets determine the total size of the invention.

The material used for the two equally sized and shaped fabric sheets can be made of any desired woven natural or man-made material. The invention is commonly placed in a duvet cover which may be made of any desired woven or non-woven, natural or man-made material; acting as a casing indicated as 70 for the invention indicated as 72.

Within the two sheets include the insulation comprised of heat expanded polystyrene beads indicated as 74. The insulation is evenly distributed through out the invention by sewing the upper and lower fabric sheet together indicated as 72, in a pattern indicated as 12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62 from each side through-out the entire invention.

The amount and density of the heat expanded polystyrene beads used as insulation within one invention will determine the weight which affects warmth. The ratio of the area of beads within the area of a pattern section will determine the flow of beads within a section. The invention takes on a more rigid structure when there is a high bead to area ratio which results in minimal flow of said beads. The size of the heat expanded polystyrene beads determines the comfort provided from bead flow within a pattern section. The smaller diameter the heat expanded polystyrene bead creates the more comfortable and therefore higher quality invention.

Sewing the upper and lower congruent fabric sheets in a symmetrical pattern through out the invention creates the structure which serves the purpose as a duvet. Sewing equal patterns through-out the invention locks in an equal amount of insulation within each pattern section. This provides an equal level of warmth, comfort and support through out the entire invention serving a purpose similar to traditional blankets, comforters and duvets. This structure created by the perimeter and pattern sewing is not manipulated in response to pressure exerted on the exterior of the invention. 

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 7. For use in providing warmth, comfort and support to human beings, a duvet comprising: A fabric casing consisting of two equally shaped and sized fabric sheets sewn with thread around the perimeter, and sewn with equal pattern sections through out in entirety. Heat expanded polystyrene bead insulation providing warmth, comfort and support. A removable and washable cover made of fabric providing protection to the invention during intended usage. Said fabric casing may be manufactured using any woven natural or man-made fabric type. The casing including a lower side and upper congruent side is sewn together with thread in overlying opposing relation to said lower side. Said removable and washable cover may be manufactured using any woven natural or man-made fabric type either cleaned by machine washing or dry cleaning methods. This cover is comprised of a button system connecting the invention to the cover. Said button system which is a component of the removable and washable cover may be manufactured using any type of button system including but not limited to traditional buttons serving as a fastening when passed through a buttonhole or loop for connection, or a snap button which fasten together when pressured is applied.
 8. A duvet as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pattern sections refer to the equal sections created through-out the invention by sewing the fabric casing together, creating the structure of the invention by locking in an equal amount of insulation within each pattern section through-out the entire invention, that is not manipulated in response to pressure exerted on the exterior of the invention.
 9. A duvet as set forth in claim 7 wherein said proposed warmth, comfort, and support is determined by and therefore altered by the size, density, and ratio of area of beads to area of pattern section. The smaller diameter of the beads, the less friction within pattern sections. The higher density, the heavier the invention which increases the warmth characteristic. The higher ratio of area of beads to area of pattern section, the more rigid the invention will become due to immobility of beads. 